Tris is NOT Pretty, and Why That Matters

[scribblemyname]

So someone said something on Tumblr re: Four/Tris that I flat disagree with. They couldn’t forgive Four for telling Tris she’s not pretty.

Pretty.

Oddly enough, that made my blood boil.

Why is it you can write an ugly male character and have someone fall in love with him and that’s great? Why is it that a girl has to be pretty or beautiful to be considered attractive or desirable? Why is it that this double standard is perpetuated by women?

Tris is not pretty. It is well-established by the book. Yet, she’s capable and self-aware and confident and dauntless and desirable. She’s got an honest lover who tells her the truth, that it’s who she is that attracts him and not how she looks, who wants to find out how much it takes to break her, for crying out loud, to scare her just to see her wake up.

So, Tris isn’t pretty and no one cares. Good.

Originally published at Liana Mir. You can comment here or there.

Comments

[lithiumlaughter.livejournal.com]

The whole damn point is that her appearance means jack all!

The story is an examination of character -- her development in all ways, shapes, and sizes. The only way her physical appearance is linked to this in any way is her choice in tattoos. The attraction between the two of them is BASED on character, not how pretty or not pretty either of them is. Tris particularly.

I would go on, but it's late out here, I'm severely medicated, and you've articulated exactly what I'd say any other place or time.


Basically, I share your rage. I'd ask for links, but I fear I'd end up spewing severe amounts of venom. Good grief, is this for real?

[scribblemyname]

Yeah. It's real. And I know it was probably spoken by some poor, innocent teenage girl that thinks every girl wants to be told she's pretty, whether or not she is, but...

Oooh! But.

And I managed not to comment on the post. Barely.

[lithiumlaughter.livejournal.com]

You're probably right about authorship, but damn. This mindset is, arguably, a reason why more books like "Divergent" need to exist.

You're quite possibly a stronger woman than I am. Oy.

[whipsy.livejournal.com]

Wow.

I guess they didn't read what he said after that. *rolls eyes*

[scribblemyname]

No kidding.